Moon wrasse
Moon wrasse | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Labriformes |
Family: | Labridae |
Genus: | Thalassoma |
Species: | T. lunare
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Binomial name | |
Thalassoma lunare (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Synonyms | |
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The moon wrasse (Thalassoma lunare)
The juvenile is blue on the lower half of its body, with a black spot in the middle of the dorsal fin and a black blotch on the caudal fin base. As it matures, the spot turns into a yellow crescent, hence the name. The body is green, with prominently marked scales. Coloration of the head ranges from blue to magenta, with a broken checkerboard pattern.
Moon wrasses are active fish, said to be moving all day long. They are also territorial, nipping, chasing, and otherwise harassing fish that get in their way.
Being diurnal, wrasses have strong vision, although they also have a decent sense of smell. At night, they rest in niches often under rocks or other such structures. If needed, a moon wrasse may dig out space under a rock by repeatedly swimming through it until it fits without struggle.
They are
Moon wrasses may live up to a decade in captivity, although this is shorter in the wild. They are popular fish in the aquarium trade, due to their hardiness, bright colors, and engaging behavior. They are renowned for their ability to tolerate spikes in
References
- . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-878348-60-9.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Thalassoma lunare" in FishBase. October 2013 version.
http://www.petco.com/product/104902/Lunare-Wrasse.aspx
Bibliography
The New Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium, Greg Jennings, 2007. The Inspired Aquarium: Ideas and Instructions for Living with Aquariums, Senske, 2006. Under the seas, the Ecology of Australia's Rocky Reefs, Neil Andrew, 2000.
External links
- Photos of Moon wrasse on Sealife Collection